[[File:McDonnell inauguration.jpg|thumb|[[Bob McDonnell]]'s swearing-in ceremony on January 16, 2010]]{{GovLgov}}{{TOCnestright}}'''The Governor of the Commonwealth''' is an elected Constitutional officer, the head of the Executive branch, and the highest state office in [[Virginia]]. The Governor is popularly elected every four years by a plurality and is has no lifeterm term limit but cannot succeed himself.

+

{{SEO office infobox

+

|State = Virginia

+

|Office=Governor

+

|Office type = Partisan

+

|Image =Seal of Virginia.svg.png

+

|Office website = http://www.governor.virginia.gov/

+

|Budget = 4466366

+

|Budget year = 2012

+

|Seats =

+

|Term limits = Cannot succeed themselves, no limit on total number of terms

}}{{tnr}}'''The Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia''' is an elected Constitutional officer, the head of the Executive branch, and the highest state office in [[Virginia]]. The Governor is popularly elected every four years by a plurality and has no life-term term limit, however he cannot serve consecutive terms.

−

==Current officer==

+

{{State trifecta status|state=Virginia|control=Republican}}

−

+

==Current officeholder==

−

The 71st and current governor is [[Bob McDonnell]], a [[Republican]] elected in 2009.

+

The 71st and current governor is [[Bob McDonnell]], a [[Republican]] elected in 2009.<ref>[http://www.governor.virginia.gov/ ''Office of the Governor of Virginia,'' "Governor Bob McDonnell," accessed June 22, 2012]</ref>

−

+

−

His wife, Maureen Gardner, is the First Lady of Virginia.

+

==Authority==

==Authority==

−

+

The [[Virginia Constitution|state Constitution]] addresses the office of the governor in [[Article V, Virginia Constitution|Article V, the Executive]].

−

The [[Virginia Constitution|state Constitution]] addresses the office of the governor in [[Virginia|Article V, the Executive]].

+

Under Article V, Section I:

Under Article V, Section I:

Line 17:

Line 36:

|-

|-

|

|

−

''The chief executive power of the Commonwealth shall be vested in a Governor. ''

+

''The chief executive power of the Commonwealth shall be vested in a Governor.''

|}

|}

−

==Requirements==

+

==Qualifications==

−

+

Candidates for the office of Governor of Virginia must be:

Candidates for the office of Governor of Virginia must be:

* a United States citizen

* a United States citizen

* a resident of Virginia for at least five years at the time of the election

* a resident of Virginia for at least five years at the time of the election

+

* a qualified elector of Virginia for at least one year preceding the election

[[Virginia]] belongs to the handful of states that hold off-year elections, that is, elections in off-numbered years that are neither Presidential nor midterm years. In Virginia's case, elections are held in the year after a Presidential and before a midterm; thus, 2009, 2013, 2017, and 2021 are all gubernatorial election years. Legally, the inauguration is always held the second Wednesday in the January after an election. Thus, January 8, 2014 and January 10, 2018 are inaugural days.

[[Virginia]] belongs to the handful of states that hold off-year elections, that is, elections in off-numbered years that are neither Presidential nor midterm years. In Virginia's case, elections are held in the year after a Presidential and before a midterm; thus, 2009, 2013, 2017, and 2021 are all gubernatorial election years. Legally, the inauguration is always held the second Wednesday in the January after an election. Thus, January 8, 2014 and January 10, 2018 are inaugural days.

In the event of a tie between two candidates or a contested election, a joint session of the legislature shall cast ballots.

In the event of a tie between two candidates or a contested election, a joint session of the legislature shall cast ballots.

+

+

===Term limits===

+

:: ''See also: [[States with gubernatorial term limits]]''

+

+

Virginia governors are not allowed to succeed themselves in office, however they have no restrictions on the number of times they may hold the position. This was once a common provision among America's gubernatorial offices, but Virginia is now the only state that continues to apply it.

If a Governor-elect dies, resigns, fails to qualify, or cannot take office for any other reason, the Lieutenant Governor-elect takes office as Governor and serves the full term. If the Governor-elect is only temporarily unable to take the oath, the Lieutenant Governor-elect serves as Acting Governor until the disability is removed.

+

+

At any time, a sitting Governor may transmit a written statement to both the President Pro Tem of the [[Virginia State Senate|Senate]] and the Speaker of the [[Virginia House of Delegates|House]] that she is temporarily unable to serve, at which time the [[Lieutenant Governor of Virginia|Lieutenant Governor]] becomes Acting Governor. The Governor resumes her duties by making a second written declaration to the same two officers.

+

+

If the [[Attorney General of Virginia|Attorney General]], the President Pro Tem of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House are in agreement that the Governor is unable to discharge the office, or when a majority of both chambers of the [[Virginia State Legislature|General Assembly]] vote on the same, they shall communicate their decision to the Clerks of both the State Senate and the House of Delegates, at which point the Lieutenant Governor immediately becomes the Acting Governor.

+

+

The Governor may, in writing, attest to the clerks of both chambers that no such inability exists and resume her duties, unless the same officers who voted to suspend her challenge the declaration in writing with four days. at that points, the General Assembly convenes within 48 hours, if not already in session, and has 21 days to decide that matter, with a three-fourths vote required. If the legislature indeed votes to remove the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor ceases to be the Acting Governor and becomes the Governor. If the vote fails, the Governor immediately resumes her full powers.

+

+

The Lieutenant Governor also immediately becomes Governor upon the death, resignation, or disqualification of the Governor.

+

+

If, at the time a vacancy occurs, an emergency prevents the Assembly from convening, the preordained line of succession behind the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor is as follows:

+

+

* the Speaker of the House of Delegates

+

* the Delegate named to act as the Speaker's stead in the Rules of the House of Delegates

+

* the President Pro Tem of the Senate

+

* the Majority Leader of the Senate

+

+

Such an individual serves as Acting Governor until the General Assembly is able to convene.

+

+

The General Assembly also has the discretion to pass a law that waives the eligibility requirements to serve as Governor of Acting Governor. Such a law may only apply in an "emergency or enemy attack upon the soil of Virginia" and only when the Governor or the duly appointed officer has proclaimed an emergency.

==Duties==

==Duties==

{{vaseal}}

{{vaseal}}

−

The Governor serves as the chief executive of the Commonwealth of [[Virginia]] for a four-year term. The [[governor]] is responsible for ensuring that the laws of the state are faithfully executed and is responsible for the safety of the state, as he serves as commander-in-chief of the Virginia Militia. The governor must convene the [[Virginia Legislature|legislature]] when two-thirds of each house calls for a special session

+

The [[governor]] is responsible for ensuring that the laws of the state are faithfully executed and is responsible for the safety of the state, as he serves as commander-in-chief of the Virginia Militia. The governor must convene the [[Virginia Legislature|legislature]] when two-thirds of each house calls for a special session (§ 5).

Other duties and privileges of the office include:

Other duties and privileges of the office include:

−

*The governor has the legislative power to submit recommendations and to call special sessions when he finds them necessary.

+

* The governor makes an address to the legislature at least once during each regular session concerning the state of the Commonwealth and containing his recommendations (§ 5).

−

*The governor has veto powers. All bills must be sent to the governor before becoming law. The governor may sign the bill, let it sit unsigned for seven days after which it becomes law, or veto the legislation. After a veto, the bill returns to its house of origin and may be overridden by two-thirds of the vote in each house.

+

* The governor has the legislative power to submit recommendations and to call special sessions when he finds them necessary (§ 5).

−

*The governor also has the power to use a line-item veto. He may send legislation back to the legislature with recommendations and amendments. The legislature must either approve the changes by a majority in each house, or override the veto with a two-thirds majority in each house.

+

* The governor has veto powers over bills and appropriations. All bills must be sent to the governor before becoming law. The governor may sign the bill, let it sit unsigned for seven days after which it becomes law, or veto the legislation. After a veto, the bill returns to its house of origin and may be overridden by two-thirds of the vote in each house (§ 6).

−

*The governor is commander-in-chief of Virginia's armed forces.

+

* The governor also has the power to use a line-item veto. He may send legislation back to the legislature with recommendations and amendments, including severable amendments. The legislature must either approve the changes by a majority in each house, or override the veto with a two-thirds majority in each house (§ 6).

−

*The governor may also communicate with other states and foreign powers.

*The governor has the power to fill vacancies in positions unless the position is appointed by the legislature.

+

* The governor may also communicate with other states and foreign powers (§ 7).

−

*The governor may commute fines or sentences and issue pardons. The governor may also restore voting rights and overturn other political penalties on individuals.

+

* The governor has the power to fill vacancies in positions unless the position is appointed by the legislature (§ 7).

+

+

* The governor may commute fines or sentences and issue pardons, excepting cases when the conviction was made by the House of Delegates. The governor may also restore voting rights and overturn other political penalties on individuals (§ 12).

+

+

* The governor must reside at the seat of government during his term (§ 4).

+

+

* The governor may require information, in writing and under oath, from any executive officer, officer of an administrative department, or officer of a state institution, on any aspect of that officer's duties and office (§ 8).

+

+

* The governor may require formal legal opinions from the [[Attorney General of Virginia]] (§ 8).

+

+

* The governor appoints all administrative officers, subject to the confirmation of the Senate or the General Assembly, as required by law, and provided the nominee have the legal qualifications for the office ((§ 8).

+

+

* Attesting to all commissions and grants made by the Commonwealth of Virginia (§ 17).

+

+

==Divisions==

+

{{SEO divisions missing}}

+

+

==State budget==

+

The budget for the Governor's Office in Fiscal Year 2012 was $4,466,366.<ref> [https://solutions.virginia.gov/pbreports/rdPage.aspx?rdReport=dwBudgetWiz&rdAgReset=True&selTableName=ChapterByFnd&selFieldList=SecretarialAreaCode%2cAgencyCode&selTitleList=AgencyTitle&selChapterID=41&iptSubmitted=True&chkInitial=True&chkAmended=True&chkCaboose=True&iptFirstPageCall=False&iptShowInput=DontShow&iptShowToggle=Show&selField1=SecretarialAreaCode&selOperator1=%3d&iptValue1=04&selValueColumns=Total%20Dollars%2cTotal%20Positions&selOperator2=&iptValue2=&rdShowModes=Show ''Virginia Budget Appropriations Database,'' "Final Budget for the 2010-2012 Biennium," accessed April 4, 2013] </ref>

==Compensation==

==Compensation==

+

::''See also: [[Comparison of gubernatorial salaries]] and [[Compensation of state executive officers]]''

+

+

::

+

+

The governor's salary is set by law and may not be raised or diminished effective during the current term.

+

+

===2013===

+

In 2013, the governor's salary was $175,000.<ref>[http://knowledgecenter.csg.org/drupal/content/csg-releases-2013-governor-salaries ''Council of State Governments,'' "CSG Releases 2013 Governor Salaries," June 25, 2013]</ref>

+

+

===2010===

+

In 2010, the Governor of Virginia was paid [http://sunshinereview.org/index.php/Virginia_state_government_salary $166,000] a year, the 5th highest gubernatorial salary in America.

+

+

==Historical officeholders==

+

There have been 71 governors of Virginia since 1776. (Acting governors are listed below but not counted). Of the 71 officeholders, 36 were Democrats, 13 were Democratic-Republicans, 8 had no party, 7 were Republicans, 2 were Conservative, 2 were Federalists, 2 were Whigs, and 1 was a Readjuster.<ref>[http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_virginia.default.html?begin3ab7dad7-4d35-4378-8780-2c26ea642036=0&&pagesize3ab7dad7-4d35-4378-8780-2c26ea642036=100 ''National Governors Association,'' " Former governors of Virginia," accessed June 13, 2013] </ref>

From 1992-2013, in Virginia there were Democratic governors in office for 10 years while there were Republican governors in office for 12 years, including the last four. Virginia was under Republican [[trifectas]] for the last two years of the study period.

+

+

Across the country, there were 493 years of Democratic governors (44.82%) and 586 years of Republican governors (53.27%) from 1992-2013.

+

+

Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states have divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.

+

+

The chart below shows the partisan composition of the [[Governor of Virginia|Office of the Governor of Virginia]], the [[Virginia State Senate]] and the [[Virginia House of Representatives]] from 1992-2013.

+

[[File:Partisan composition of Virginia state government(1992-2013).PNG]]

==See also==

==See also==

−

*[[Tim Kaine|Virginia Governor Tim Kaine]]

+

−

*[[Lieutenant Governor of Virginia]]

+

* [[Bob McDonnell|Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell]]

−

*[[Virginia Attorney General]]

+

* [[Lieutenant Governor of Virginia]]

−

*[[Virginia Secretary of State]]

+

* [[Bill Bolling|Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling]]

+

* [[Virginia Attorney General]]

+

* [[Virginia Secretary of State]]

==External links==

==External links==

−

*[http://www.governor.virginia.gov/ ''Office of the Virginia Governor'']

The Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia is an elected Constitutional officer, the head of the Executive branch, and the highest state office in Virginia. The Governor is popularly elected every four years by a plurality and has no life-term term limit, however he cannot serve consecutive terms.

Elections

Virginia belongs to the handful of states that hold off-year elections, that is, elections in off-numbered years that are neither Presidential nor midterm years. In Virginia's case, elections are held in the year after a Presidential and before a midterm; thus, 2009, 2013, 2017, and 2021 are all gubernatorial election years. Legally, the inauguration is always held the second Wednesday in the January after an election. Thus, January 8, 2014 and January 10, 2018 are inaugural days.

In the event of a tie between two candidates or a contested election, a joint session of the legislature shall cast ballots.

Term limits

Virginia governors are not allowed to succeed themselves in office, however they have no restrictions on the number of times they may hold the position. This was once a common provision among America's gubernatorial offices, but Virginia is now the only state that continues to apply it.

Vacancies

If a Governor-elect dies, resigns, fails to qualify, or cannot take office for any other reason, the Lieutenant Governor-elect takes office as Governor and serves the full term. If the Governor-elect is only temporarily unable to take the oath, the Lieutenant Governor-elect serves as Acting Governor until the disability is removed.

At any time, a sitting Governor may transmit a written statement to both the President Pro Tem of the Senate and the Speaker of the House that she is temporarily unable to serve, at which time the Lieutenant Governor becomes Acting Governor. The Governor resumes her duties by making a second written declaration to the same two officers.

If the Attorney General, the President Pro Tem of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House are in agreement that the Governor is unable to discharge the office, or when a majority of both chambers of the General Assembly vote on the same, they shall communicate their decision to the Clerks of both the State Senate and the House of Delegates, at which point the Lieutenant Governor immediately becomes the Acting Governor.

The Governor may, in writing, attest to the clerks of both chambers that no such inability exists and resume her duties, unless the same officers who voted to suspend her challenge the declaration in writing with four days. at that points, the General Assembly convenes within 48 hours, if not already in session, and has 21 days to decide that matter, with a three-fourths vote required. If the legislature indeed votes to remove the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor ceases to be the Acting Governor and becomes the Governor. If the vote fails, the Governor immediately resumes her full powers.

The Lieutenant Governor also immediately becomes Governor upon the death, resignation, or disqualification of the Governor.

If, at the time a vacancy occurs, an emergency prevents the Assembly from convening, the preordained line of succession behind the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor is as follows:

the Speaker of the House of Delegates

the Delegate named to act as the Speaker's stead in the Rules of the House of Delegates

the President Pro Tem of the Senate

the Majority Leader of the Senate

Such an individual serves as Acting Governor until the General Assembly is able to convene.

The General Assembly also has the discretion to pass a law that waives the eligibility requirements to serve as Governor of Acting Governor. Such a law may only apply in an "emergency or enemy attack upon the soil of Virginia" and only when the Governor or the duly appointed officer has proclaimed an emergency.

Duties

The governor is responsible for ensuring that the laws of the state are faithfully executed and is responsible for the safety of the state, as he serves as commander-in-chief of the Virginia Militia. The governor must convene the legislature when two-thirds of each house calls for a special session (§ 5).

Other duties and privileges of the office include:

The governor makes an address to the legislature at least once during each regular session concerning the state of the Commonwealth and containing his recommendations (§ 5).

The governor has the legislative power to submit recommendations and to call special sessions when he finds them necessary (§ 5).

The governor has veto powers over bills and appropriations. All bills must be sent to the governor before becoming law. The governor may sign the bill, let it sit unsigned for seven days after which it becomes law, or veto the legislation. After a veto, the bill returns to its house of origin and may be overridden by two-thirds of the vote in each house (§ 6).

The governor also has the power to use a line-item veto. He may send legislation back to the legislature with recommendations and amendments, including severable amendments. The legislature must either approve the changes by a majority in each house, or override the veto with a two-thirds majority in each house (§ 6).

The governor is commander-in-chief of Virginia's armed forces (§ 7).

The governor may also communicate with other states and foreign powers (§ 7).

The governor has the power to fill vacancies in positions unless the position is appointed by the legislature (§ 7).

The governor may commute fines or sentences and issue pardons, excepting cases when the conviction was made by the House of Delegates. The governor may also restore voting rights and overturn other political penalties on individuals (§ 12).

The governor must reside at the seat of government during his term (§ 4).

The governor may require information, in writing and under oath, from any executive officer, officer of an administrative department, or officer of a state institution, on any aspect of that officer's duties and office (§ 8).

The governor appoints all administrative officers, subject to the confirmation of the Senate or the General Assembly, as required by law, and provided the nominee have the legal qualifications for the office ((§ 8).

Attesting to all commissions and grants made by the Commonwealth of Virginia (§ 17).

Divisions

Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for information that describes the divisions (if any exist) of a state executive office. That information for the Governor of Virginia has not yet been added. After extensive research we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.

State budget

The budget for the Governor's Office in Fiscal Year 2012 was $4,466,366.[2]

2013

2010

In 2010, the Governor of Virginia was paid $166,000 a year, the 5th highest gubernatorial salary in America.

Historical officeholders

There have been 71 governors of Virginia since 1776. (Acting governors are listed below but not counted). Of the 71 officeholders, 36 were Democrats, 13 were Democratic-Republicans, 8 had no party, 7 were Republicans, 2 were Conservative, 2 were Federalists, 2 were Whigs, and 1 was a Readjuster.[4]

History

Partisan balance 1992-2013

From 1992-2013, in Virginia there were Democratic governors in office for 10 years while there were Republican governors in office for 12 years, including the last four. Virginia was under Republican trifectas for the last two years of the study period.

Across the country, there were 493 years of Democratic governors (44.82%) and 586 years of Republican governors (53.27%) from 1992-2013.

Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states have divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.